Impact of COVID-19 on non-communicable disease management services at selected government health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Abstract

The global pandemic of COVID-19 forced the world to divert resources and asked the public to shelter-in-place, so the diagnosis surveillance system and management of non-communicable diseases has become more challenging. To identify the impact of COVID-19 on non-communicable diseases management services at government health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Health facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from August to September, 2020. A total of 30 health centers were included in this study. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to assess association between the outcome and independent variables. The majority, 24 (80%), of the study participants perceived that the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the non-communicable disease management services. There was a statistically significant association between a decrease in outpatient volume at non communicable disease (NCD) management services (25 (83.3%), P-value: 0.006), closure of population level screening programs of NCDs (22 (73.3%), P-value: 0.007), and closure of disease specific NCD clinics and the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic (23 (76.7%), P-value: 0.013). The most critical health-care services for non-communicable diseases management were severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, during public health emergencies, policymakers should ensure continuation of critical clinical services and inform the public about proper service utilization.